Louisville Bicycle Club Newsletter — July-August 1997

Wheelmen’s Bench — Update

by Larry Hammers

As everyone may remember, it was voted at a general meeting last year to form a committee and put in motion a plan to get a Kentucky Historical Marker placed at Wheelmen’s Bench. This Marker would be installed in 1997 to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the Bench.

Our application for a Marker was approved by the Historical Society. The Marker has been funded from a number of Louisville Bicycle Club sources, supplemented by donations from some Club members. The text of the Maker will have a brief description about how the Ruff Memorial/Wheelmen’s Bench came to be built and the opposite side of the Marker will include a story about the 10,000 person bike ride of 1897 out Third Street to Southern Parkway, a ride that was cheered by 50,000 spectators.

The Bench is looking great. It was recently cleaned and repaired by a contractor hired by the Parks Department. The Historical Marker is to be installed in September. Some special events and rides will be coordinated with the Sunday, September 28, 1997, Dedication Celebration. Mark your calendar and watch the ride schedule and this newsletter for further details.